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Locals & Belongers preferred is good policy - N. Wheatley

- Says Globalisation impractical for the VI
Commentator Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru has argued that globalisation has seen the exploitation of people around the world and noted that the policy of ‘Belongers preferred’, as is done in the Virgin Islands, is a practical policy that also happens all around the world. Photo: VINO
He stated that he was of the belief that there are ways for persons to function that would allow everybody in the world to get work for themselves and be able to feed their families but didn't feel this would happen through globalisation as we see it. Photo: Facebook
He stated that he was of the belief that there are ways for persons to function that would allow everybody in the world to get work for themselves and be able to feed their families but didn't feel this would happen through globalisation as we see it. Photo: Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Commentator Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru has argued that globalisation has seen the exploitation of people around the world and noted that the policy of locals or ‘Belongers preferred’, as is done in the Virgin Islands, is a practical policy that also happens all around the world.

“It’s not because we don’t want to be fair to anybody else,” Wheatley said on the Umoja show aired on September 5, 2013. He added that this did not mean Virgin Islanders or Belongers hated other nationalities or were xenophobic. “It’s just a practical law [and] practical method that happens all over the world.”

He argued that there were people, primarily from Europe and North America who have gone all over the world and have been exploiting people’s labour markets and natural resources.

“They’ve spread an ideology called globalisation and even our own people have accepted it, that your nationality shouldn’t matter anymore and whatever group you belong to shouldn’t matter anymore,” Mr Wheatley stated.

According to the commenator, these things were not practical, “just because people want to go around the world looking for work for themselves doesn’t meant that I don’t deserve work in my own homeland or I don’t deserve opportunities in my own homeland.”

He stated that he was of the belief that there are ways for persons to function that would allow everybody in the world to get work for themselves and be able to feed their families.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen through this ideology of globalisation as we see it, where people are going around competing with you and they don’t want any boundaries or restrictions to them coming and competing against you,” Wheatley stated, “I favour cooperation more than I favour competition.”

He argued that if there was a greater degree of cooperation and resource utilisation within the Caribbean region, people would not have to move around because they were being starved at home.

According to Mr Wheatley, “We have a great amount of resources here in the Caribbean that we could develop and if we did something that was practical as opposed to getting all our products from North America or China or wherever else, and we started to develop some products for ourselves… it would ensure that we have some work.”

19 Responses to “Locals & Belongers preferred is good policy - N. Wheatley”

  • BREAKING NEWS (08/09/2013, 09:22) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yea try get labour to enforce it!!
    • farmer brown (08/09/2013, 13:56) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      they only enforce it for local compaines but the expat companies get away scot free and that is injustice
  • job (08/09/2013, 09:42) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    BVIslanders or Belongers preferred is a joke. Most ads are just to satisfy Labour Dept. requirements. The job requirements are skewed for the person the organization already decided on to fill that position, whether they are local or not. It is now costly and time consuming seeking a job. Many jobs now ask for a police report, which cost for the photo and the report. You have to get testimonials and make copies of your documents and of course prepare your résumé. This can be a lot work a person has to go through for a job that is advertised, but already filled from the start.
    • Employee (08/09/2013, 10:47) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
      Welcome to the real world. A CV is required, as are references. In principle I agree that local persons should be protected within the jobs market due to the pressure of outside applicants. The problem here is that there is an over inflated view of one's abilities and qualification for the roles, often managerial, and expats sometimes have the genuine edge.
      What is needed is a better understanding of how experience and education lead to progression in the work place, rather than an attititude, of I'm born here therefore I'm entitled.
      • @ Employee (08/09/2013, 17:39) Like (6) Dislike (23) Reply
        You clueless expat people always on these sites posting a bunch of hog wash which most often is racist
    • True (08/09/2013, 14:24) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      There was a job advertised for 6 weeks in the local paper. I applied filled all the requirements, ticked all the boxes and even had a great interview with the manager. I was told the owner was interviewing in UK and would be back in a couple of weeks and she would get me back in to view everything.

      The advert reappears in the paper except the requirements have now changed asking for a level unheard of in the caribbean. This was tailored to the exact candidate they found in the UK.

      This happens time and again and all the adverts in the papers are as "job" says just for the labour office forms.
      • tretretrete (08/09/2013, 17:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Labour Dept don't enforce one they going enforce another thats were it all starts
  • results (08/09/2013, 13:00) Like (7) Dislike (31) Reply
    If expats have the genuine edge, why are so many businesses that they heading up/manager of, shrinking instead of expanding? The BVI is not getting the cream of the crop. They are no more than the average guy or gal you find in their hometown. Put them back in their country, they are a dime a dozen and here they are treated as if they can take the BVI somewhere, whereas the only place the BVI has gone is backwards.
    • Yep (09/09/2013, 10:38) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      so true indeed! in the city of london some of them out on the open floor like everyone else; come to BVI they get a corner office with a view and manage some local people and feel they have made it! often times adopting a God complex!
  • VG ISL (08/09/2013, 13:11) Like (6) Dislike (8) Reply
    Education, dedication, dependability, honesty are all necessary for ANY position, managerial or otherwise. These days everyone (especially young BVIslanders) wants to start off at the top. One proves themselves and WORKS their way to the top in any position, especially those fresh out of school.
  • facts (08/09/2013, 13:34) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    no once cares about locals must less belongers check the private sector job market!
  • played out (08/09/2013, 13:59) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    Would you stop with that tired story already? How many BVI kids have been educated at US & UK colleges? You have been using that excuse for a ridiculous number of years. It is played out and a fib.
    • truth kills (08/09/2013, 17:14) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      Government has not spend too much time on this issue protection of the local people
  • the rock (08/09/2013, 17:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    from doc down are wishy washy on tight labour enforcement
  • ABC (08/09/2013, 19:48) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This Government is too buisy giving away this country to whom so ever will. This can only happen because the Minister who is responsible for labour does not have a back bone.
  • Hold Tight (08/09/2013, 22:21) Like (6) Dislike (16) Reply
    Locals preferred is the way to go because we here are watching a tidal wave of outsiders and there must be some protection for us in terms of who gains from this globalization and for our culture.
    BUT let us not forget we brought this development of our islands on ourselves. And we benefit from globalization every day - we love big cars, TV, fancy drinks and nightclubs and cash opportunities that jump out at us. We lap it up. Years ago this place was quiet, quiet. Nothin much happening here, you know. People moving by walking or donkey or rowing or sail between the islands. Now we jammin hard.
    So let's not be foolish and make like all this is pure exploitation. This is what we worked for all through those years of development - for the world to come to us.
    Now it is here, we must be protected against drowning, but not angry and full of hate like so many of us become. Of course them outsiders want the best man or woman for the job. That's how jobs work, how businesses survive. If they turning BVIslanders down who qualify they need to go in front of Labor. But we too need to make sure are the best, not just expect the big chair because we come from. We need to strive for excellence, not whine like so.
  • belonger (12/09/2013, 08:02) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply

    LOCALS & BELONGERS PREFERRED is just a written policy but they never implement it. Look at scrub

  • Local (12/09/2013, 08:22) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    impose the policy do not just say it.


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